Switch.



J. E. BRADYHCK SWITCH.'v

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1915.

Patented June 26, 1917.

infer H E a.

A TTRNEYS UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

. JOSEPH E. BBADRICK, OF WEST UNITY, OHIO.

SWITCH.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it `knownthat I, JOSEPH a citizen of the United States, and a resident of West Unity, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches,

in such closed position, and wherein other mechanism is provided adapted to be mounted on the cab of an engine or in any other suitable place, for permitting the engineer or other operator to operate the said switch operating mechanism from the engine, without the necessity of stopping the train, and while the train is running at full speed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the operating mechanism with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the actuating mechanism, with the parts in another position;

Figs. 3 and f1 are enlarged sections of Fig.

1, taken on the lines 3 3 and respec-v tively;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the controlling mechanism mounted on the engine, and

of the actuating mechanism, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the operating mechanism detached, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing thel locking mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the locking rod. y

The present embodiment of theinvention is shown in connection with a railroad track, wherein the main line rails 1 and the lswitch line rails 2 are mounted on the usual ties 3, and the points 4 are connected with the rails in the usual manner, to deiect a train from the main line track to the switch track when desired. The usual plate 5 is connected with the 4points for moving them. the said plate. being arranged beneath the rails and the points` and connected to the points in such manner that when the plate is moved longi- E. BRADRICK,

specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 26, 1917, Appiiation mea June 1, 1915. serial No. 31,469.

vtudinally the switch points will be moved laterally. I

A bar 6, to be later described in detail, is connected at one end with the plate 5, and a link 7 is pivoted to the other end of the bar at one end of the link. The other end of the link 7 is connected to a lateral or radial arm 9 on the lower end of a sectional shaft to be later described, which is journaled in vertical position in the switch stand casing 11. v

The bar 6 is arranged within a casingv 12 in a pit near the free ends of the points, and the pit is covered `with a cover 13, .the said cover extending transversely of the track 'the link being pivoted to bot-h arm and bar.

A shaft 18 is inserted in the upper end of the section 15, and is connected thereto by means of a cross pin 19. and the operating lever 20 for the sectional shaft is connected to an arm 21 secured to the shaft 18 by means of a cross pin 22, the said arm having a hub encircling the shaft, and the pin 22 extends through the hub and the shaft. The arm y21 is provided with a longitudinal slot 23, the saidslot being radial to the shaft 18, and the lever has a headed pin 24 engaging the slot slidably. The lever is pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket 25 on the top of the switch stand casing, and the usual target 26 is connected to the upper end of the extension or signal shaft 18.

A radial arm 27 is connected with the signal shaft 18 at the upper end of the section 15, and just within the switch stand casing 11, the said arm being prevented from up ward movement by a Cotter pin 28, as shown. The outer. end of the arm 2r 1s connected to` the upper end of a shaft 10, and the lower i end of Ithe shaft has an angular lug 8, to wlnehnis connected locking mechanism for the barf'.

lt. will be evident that when the outer und of the lever 20 is lifted` the arm 21, the L extension shaft 18, the upper section of the sectional shaft and the shaft or rod 10 will all be depressed. These parts are normally pressed upward by a coiled spring 29 which encircles the shaft or rod l() between the base of the switch stand and a stop 30 held on the rod.

The upper edge of the bar 6 is provided with notches 31, which are adapted for engagement by a locking rod 32. This rod is adapted to rest within the notches, and at one side of the bar the rod is provided with an annular lug 33 depending alongside the bar. The rod 32 is pivoted at the end remote from the angular lug 33, as indicated at 32a, to the cover 13, and intermediate its ends the rod moves between guides 3212 Adjacent to the guides 32b the rod rests on one end of a latch' lever 35, which engages at the other end the angular lug 8 on the rod 10, and the lever is pivoted intermediate its ends to the it wall, as indicated at 35".

It will be evi ent that when the outer end of the lever 2O is lifted as above mentioned, the said lever will be released from the slotted arm of the bracket 80, and the shaft 18 will be depressed. The shaft 10 will also be depressed and the outer end of the latch lever 35 will be moved downward, and the inner end will lift the locking rod 32, releasing the said rod from the notches 31 of the bar 6. The said bar 6 may now be moved by the rotation of the sectional shaft 14e-15 in order to move the switch points. The head 11n of the casing 11 is mounted to rotate in the casing 11. and to move with the shaft 1S. The rod 32 is a lock for preventing movcmentof the switch points manually, that is, by means ofthe lever 20.

At a suitable'distance from the switch points a second pit is provided, and a casing 36 is arranged within the pit. Above the pit and extending longitudinally of the track, plates 37 and 38 are secured to the tie, the said plates being spaced apart at their meetingr ends, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and guide blocks 39 are arranged at the opening, the said guide blocks connecting the two plates. their inner faces at the opening between the plates and on each side thereof, as indicated at 10. and a lever 41 is arrangedwithin the recess. This lever 41 is provided with a depending pin 43 at the end adjacent to the switch, and the pin 43 engages a slot 14 in an angular lug 45 at the upper end of a lever 46 pivoted to t-he pit wall, as indicated at 47.

A link 48 connects the lower end of the lever 46 to the lower end of a second lever 49. which is pivoted to the pit wall. as indicated at 50. link 51 is connected with the upper end of .the lever 49, the said link eX- tending parallel with the link 4S. and the end of the link remote from the lever 49 The guide blocks are recessed on is connected to a crank arm 52 on one end of a shaft 53, having at the other end a similar arm 52, cylindrical casing 5l extending longitudinally of the track between the pits, and opening at each end into the adjacent pit.

The crank arm 52a is connected to a link 51l1 corresponding to the link 51 in arrangement and location, and pivoted at its opposite end to the upper end of a lever 49a. The lever 49a is pivoted to the wall of the pit 12 intermediate its ends, as indicated at 50, and a link l13a connects the lower end of the lever 49*L with a lever 46 arranged parallel with the lever 46 and with the lever 49a, and

pivoted intermediate its ends to the Vwall of the pit 12, as indicated at 47a.

It will be evident that when the upper end of the lever 46 is swung to the right of Fig. 7, the lever 49 will be swung in unison therewith, oscillating the crank shaft 53, and the parallel levers 46a and 49a in the pit 112 will undergo-the same movement that the parallel levers 16 and L19 will undergo Vin the pit 36. The upper end of the lever 46l engages that end of the bar 6 remote from the switch The shaft 53 is journaled in a stand casing, and it will be evident that when the said lever 46a is swung as above mentioned, the bar 6 'will be moved longitudinally toward the switch stand to move the points into main line position.

Guiding mechanism is provided in each pit, in connection with the upper ends of the levers 46 and 49, the said guiding mechanism having other mechanism in connection therewith for returning the parts to normal position. The guiding mechanism in the pit 36 is in the form of a rod 55, connected to the lug 45 at the upper end of the lever 46, the said rod passing through a guide 56 secured near the top of the pit.

A coiled spring 57 is arranged between the guide and the lug 45, and the spring acts normally to hold the parallel levers 46 and L19 and connected parts in the full line position of Fig. 3.

The guiding mechanism in the pit 12 is a rod 58. which moves in a guide cylinder 59. the endv of the rod adjacent to the lever 49 is pivoted to the lever, and a coiled spring 60 is arranged between the inner end of the cylinder 59 and a stop 61 on the rod. The spring acts normally to hold the parallel levers 46a-49 and connected parts in the position of Fig. 4.

A cam lever 62 is arrangeduwithin the pit 12, the said cam lever being pivoted at one end to the crank arm 52a of the shaft 53. This cam lever 62 at its free end rests upon a guide 63 at the cylinder 59. and the top of the cam lever normally engages the depending lug 33 of the locking rod`32.

The lng 33 slidingly engages the lever 62 and rides thereon when the said lever is moved longitudinally. A spring 64 is attached to the lever. and to a lug 65 of the casing, and the spring acts to hold the free end of the lever upon the guide 63 with which the cam lever cooperates. 62a is of such depth'and length as to .insure a lifting of the lever 62 to disengage the rod 32 from locking engagement with the notch of the bar 6 preliminary to actuation ofthe said bar, to operate the switch. It will be noticed that space is provided between the upper end of the lever 46a and the bar G to permit the cam lever to liftthe locking rod before the barA 6 begins to move.

The `passage-way between the blocks 39 is normally partially closed by cover. plates 66, the said platesrbeing secured to the blocks in any suitable manner and the plates are flush with the outer edges of the blocks,

and are spaced apart at their meeting edges to form a narrow passage, just wide enough to receive operating mechanism arranged on the engine, for permitting the engineer to operate the switch mechanism.

This mechanism, as shown in Fig. 6, comprises a rod 67, having its lower end flattened in one direction and enlarged in the other, to Jorm a head 68. This head is frustopyramidal in side view, and is of a'width to fit the passage between the plates 66 and the blocks 39. The rod is secured to the upper head 68 of a piston 69 mounted to slide in a cylinder 70 connected with the cab of the engine 71. The cylinder in the present instance has a marginal flange 72 at its upper end, which is secured to the calo floor, and the lower end is closed by a head 73 secured to a marginal flange 74 on the lower end of the cylinder by bolts and nuts 75.

The lower end of the piston is open, and a coiled spring 76 is arranged within the piston, between the head 73 of the cylinder and the head 68 of the piston, and the spring acts normally to press the piston upwardly, to hold therod 67 in inoperative position and out of position to engage the passage between the plates 66.

The rod 67 passes through a stufiing box 7 3a in the head 73, and through an opening in the head 68 of the piston, and a nut 77 is threaded onto the rod The cylinder 70 is supplied with fluid under pressure in any suitable manner, as for instance, by the pipe 78, and a suitable valve is provided (not shown) under the immediate control of the engineer, for controlling the supply of fuel to the cylinder.

In operation, when the engineer approaching the switch sees that the points are set to deflect his train onto the switch, he will operate the. valve in the cab to admit the fluid under pressure to the cylinder 70. This fluid will force the piston downwardly into the position of Fig. 6, and will bring the head 68 of the rod 67 into position to pass between the plates 66 and the blocks 39.

The cam above the head.

The parts are normally in the position of Fig. 1, with the switch open, and as the head 68 of the rod passes through the passage, it will eventually strike the lever 41 near its center, and will force the free end of the level,l laterally, moving the pin 43 laterally, as shown in Fig. 2. The lever 46 rwill be swung on its pivot 47 and the pairs of parallel levers '4G-i9, 16a-49 will be swung and operate the cam lever 62 to effect a release of the switch operating mechanism preliminary to actuation of the switch. The switch points will be moved to main line position, and at 'the same moment the switch shaft 1415-18will be oscillated, so that the target will show clear or safety.

The mechanism just described does not affect the manual operation of the switch. When it is desired to move the switch from main line to siding position, the lever 20 is swung upward. The upward movement of the outer end of this lever depresses the extension shaft 18 and the outer section-15 Y of the sectional shaft. The same movement The switch shaft 111-15-18 is now released, and by swinging the handle 20 angularly the points are moved from main line to siding position. The switch points may be moved in either direction manually, merely by'lifting the outer end of the lever or handle Q0, and swinging the said handle in the proper direction. 4

The bar is provided with two notches for engagement by the locking rod to lock the points in open or closed position. The sections 14 and l5 of the switch stand may move freely with respect to each other longitudinally or vertically, but they are constrained to move together angularly by the pin and slot connection.

All of the working parts are housed against the entrance of ice, dust or snow, or the like, the pairs of parallel llevers being arranged in the respective pits which are covered over as above described, while the shaft 53 is arranged in the cylindrical hous ing 54, connected at its ends to the pit wall. A housng 79 is provided for covering the bar 6, the link 7, and adjacent parts, between the switch points and the switch stand. The

is a closed casing, it may also be are spaced apart a distance less than the length of the block 41a, and the pin 43 moves in an opening 8l in the plate 38. This arrangement prevents the lever 41 from moving longitudinally, while at the same time permitting the greatest possible angular movement. f, In practice the lever 41 is not pivoted to any fixed support, being pivoted intermediate its ends to the sliding block and having that end remote from the pin 43 free. The lever 20 when the points are closed in main line position, drops into la slotted arm or bracket 80, integral with the bracket Q5, and rotating .when the lever is swung with the head l1a and with the said bracket, and the arm and lever have registering openings through which may be passed a padlock to lock the lever in closed position.

I claim:

l. The combination with the switch points and the plate connecting the points, of a bar secured to the plate at one end, a switch i "stand at the outer end of the bar, a switch shaft journaled in the stand and composed of telescoping sections, movable vertically with respect to each Other and having means for constraining them to rotate together, the lower section of the shaft having an angular arm, and a link connecting the arm to the bar, an arm extending radially from the upper section of the shaft, a lever having a sliding pivotal connection with the arm au the inner end of the lever, a bracket to which the lever is pivoted, the switch stand having a rotatable head at its upper end to which the bracket is connected, the bar having notches in its upper face, and a locking rod for engaging the notches to hold the points in open or closed position, a latch lever pivoted intermediate its ends, and engaging the locking rod at one end, a connection between the upper section of the switch stand and the other end of the latch bar to lift the locking lever when the said section is depressed,

and a spring normally pressing the section upward.

2. Switch operating mechanism, comprising in combination with the points, a bar connected to the points for moving the same, a shaft consisting of upper and lower sections slidably connected and constrained to rotate together, and j ournaled in vertical po sition adjacent to the bar, the lower section having a radial arm, and a link connecting the arm to the bar, locking mechanism for engaging the bar to lock the points yin open or closed position, means for moving the upper section of the shaft vertically and for rotating the shaft, a swinging latch lever for releasing the locking means, a rod connected to the upper section of the shaft at one end and with the swinging latch lever at the other, for swinging the lever to release the` locking mechanism when the upper section is depressed, and a spring pressing the upper section away from the lower section.

3. Switch operating mechanism, comprising in combination with the points, a bar connected 'to the points for moving the same, a shaft consisting of upper and lower sections slidably connected and constrained to rotate together, and journaled in vertical position adjacent to the bar, the lower section having a radial arm, and a link connecting the arm to the bar, mechanism for engaging the bar to lock the points in open or closed position, means for moving the upper section of the shaft vertically and for rotating the shaft, a spring normally 'pressing' the upper section away from the .lower section, and means operated by the downward movement of the upper section for releasing the locking mechanism.

JOSEPH E. emulsion.A 

